Weather block and sash balance guide



Jan. 23, 1968 w, COLLAR]: 3,364,622

WEATHER BLOCK AND SASH BALANCE GUIDE Filed May 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2 I 1" [MM] i|iHi| iilm A 1 Earl W. Col/am INVENTOR.

Jan. 23, 1968 E. w. COLLARD 3,354,622

WEATHER BLOCK AND S ASH BALANCE GUIDE Filed May 55, 1965 2 SheetsSheet 1-.

United States Patent 3,364,622 WEATHER BLGCK AND SASH BALANCE GUKDE Earl W. Collard, 2714 lvloirntain Ave, El Paso, Tex. 79930 Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,638 9 Claims. (Cl. 49445) The instant invention is generally concerned with window construction and more particularly relates to the balance pockets provided between the jamb and adjoining sashes for the accommodation of sash balances utilized in conjunction with double hung windows.

One of the most vexing problems arising from the use of balanced double hung windows is the fact that a great deal of air is transmitted through the balance pockets, especially on windy days. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a means for preventing this movement of air through a balance pocket.

In conjunction with the primary object supra, it is also a significant object of the instant invention to provide a member which not only acts as a weather block, but also functions so as to secure and stabilize the lower end of a spring loaded balance.

Further, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide an element which will act so as to guide the sash during the vertical movement thereof while retaining a substantially sealed relation therewith.

Basically, in order to achieve the above objects, the device or member of the instant invention, preferably made of self-lubricating nylon, consists of a block having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the balance pocket within which it is to be fixed. This member, in use, is fixedly secured to the jamb and has the adjoining sash tile slidably engaged with the opposite face thereof. Further, a vertical passage is provided centrally through the member, this passage frictionally receiving the balance housing and constituting a seal therewith while at the same time providing for a stabilization of the entire balance.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view illustrating a double hung window incorporating the combination weather block and sash balance guide member of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial elevational view of the window construction of FIGURE 1 with portions broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FlGURE 5 is a perspective view of the member constituting the weather block and sash balance guide; and

FiGURE 6 is another perspective view of the member taken from a different angle.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 18 is used to generally designate a substantia.ly conventional double hung window construction including side jarnbs 12 (only one being illustrated), and upper and lower sliding sashes 14 and 16. Each of the sashes i -l and 16 is balanced through the use of a pair of spring-loaded sash balances 18, these balances 18 each consisting of an elongated tubular housing 20 having a spring-loaded spiral rod 22 selectively extensible from the lower end of the housing 29 and engaged with the 3,354,522 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 bottom rail of the corresponding sash, either 14 or 16, so as to maintain the sash in any vertically adjusted position.

With particular reference to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the balance 18 of each sash is received within a balance pocket 24-. This pocket 24 is defined by the adjacent jamb l2 and sash stile 26. More specifically, the jamb 12 includes an elongated web 28 divided into two adjacent longitudinal web sections 3% by a centrally located forwardly projecting flange 32 with two outer forwardly projecting flanges 34 also being provided parallel to the central flange 32 and integral with the longitudinal edges of the web 23. The sash stile 26* consists of a central web as and two inwardly projecting edge flanges 38 orientated in inwardly spaced parallel relation to a pair of adjoining jamb flanges 32 and 34. The stile flanges 38, as will be appreciated from the drawings, project inwardly a distance equal to only approximately one-half the depth of the jamb flanges 32 and 34- with a suitable sliding seal 49 being provided between the stile flanges and jamb flanges so as to both guide the sash, 14' or 1-6, during the vertical movement thereof and maintain a sealed relationship therebetween. It will, of course, be appreciated that both the jamb 12 and stile 26 contain other specific structural features, not specifically enumerated, for both mounting the jamb on the wall and retaining a glass or other type of panel within the sash.

The specifically described jamb portion and interfitted stile define What might be considered a T-shaped pocket which longitudinally receives the balance 18. It is in order to prevent a flow of air through this pocket that the weather block and sash balance guide member 42 is provided. This member 42 has a generally T-shaped configuration corresponding in size to the T-shaped balance pocket so as to substantially completely fill this pocket. Basically, the member d2 includes a top panel 44- having a laterally elongated rectangular portion 46 spanning and filling that portion of the balance pocket rearward of the stile flanges 38, and a smaller forwardly projecting rectangular portion 4a engaged within and corresponding in size to the cross-sectional area of the stile 26. integral vertical walls 5! depend from all tie edges of the top panel 44 except for the rear edge 52 thereof with the vertical walls of the forwardly projecting section or portion 43 being only approximately one-half the height of the remaining walls 56. Further, a vertical passage 54, having a circular cross-section, extends through the top panel 44 and continues throughout the full height of the member 42 through the provision of an arcuate wall portion 56 below the top panel 44 and has an integral continuation of the adjoining walls 50. Similarly, the depending walls 59 of the projection or projecting sections 48 have the inner face thereof arcuately formed so as to likewise define a portion of the passage 5 Referring to FIGURE 6, it will be noted that the arcuate wall portion 56 has a planar rear face 58 located in the same vertical plane as the rear edge 52 as well as the rear edges 66 of the depending side walls.

To describe the member 42. in another manner, it might be considered to consist of an integral rigid nylon unit having a first vertically elongated rectangular portion with this first rectangular portion having depending end Walls and a depending forward wall which in turn has a vertically extending forwardly opening recess centrally therein. In addition, a forwardly extending smaller rectangular projection is fixed to the forward wall and defines a rearwardly opening vertical recess which in turn forms an enclosing continuation of the forwardly opening recess so as to produce a vertical passage through the member 42.

The member 42 is fixed with a balance pocket by adhesively securing the rear edges 52 and an, as Well as the planar rear surface 58, to the inner face of the jamb web section 30, while at the same time preferably adhesively securing the two end walls 50 to the opposed jamb flanges 32 and 34. The forward face of the member 42 conforms to the shape of the stile 26- and slidably engages the rearward edges of the stile flanges 28 and the rear face of the stile web 36 so as to guide the stile during the vertical movement thereof. The formation of the met ber 42 of nylon is highly desirable in that, through its self-lubricating nature, there will be no tendency for the sash stile to stick, this being so even with the relatively sealed relationship therebetween.

The balance 18 has a lower portion thereof received through the passage 54 with the balance housing 20 being frictionally engaged therein and effectively stabilized through the elongated arcuate recessed wall portion 56 as well as the encircling shorter arcuate portion formed by the depending projection walls G. in this manner, the lower end of the corresponding balance 13 is properly positioned centrally within the balance pocket and retained against any tendency for this balance 18 to move or rattle.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a simple though highly novel device has been defined. This device, consisting basically of a specifically formed rigid nylon block, functions so as to not only provide an effective means for stopping movement of air through a double hung window balance pocket, but also so as to stabilize and properly position the spring-loaded balance, and stabilize and guide the sash itself during the vertical movement thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use within a balance pocket defined by a fixed jamb having a web portion and forwardly projecting flanges and an adjacent sash stile having a web and rearwardly projectin g flanges received between the jamb flanges, a weather block and sash balance member, said member having a top panel, said top panel having an elongated rear edge engageable against the jamb web portion along the full width thereof, parallel side edges projecting forwardly at right angles from the opposite ends of the rear edge and engageable against the opposed forwardly projecting jamb flanges, a forward edge comprising a pair of aligned sections projecting inwardly from the forward ends of the side edges parallel to the rear edge and engageable against the rearward edges of the stile flanges, and a projection extending forwardly between and relative to the aligned forward edge sections for reception between the stile flanges with the forward end thereof positionable juxtaposed the stile web.

2. The structure of claim 1 including a central passage through said panel for the reception of a sash balance therethrough.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said member includes depending walls along the forward edge sections and around the forwardly extending projection, a portion of said walls defining a balance stabilizing smooth continuation of said central passage.

4. A Weather block and sash balance guide member for use within a balance pocket defined by a jamb and an adjacent sash stile, said member comprising a vertically elongated rectangular portion, said portion having a top and a forward wall, said forward wall having a vertically extending forwardly opening recess centrally therein, and a forwardly extending projection fixed to the forward wall on opposite sides of the recess and projecting forwardly thereof, said forwardly extending projection defining a rearwardly opening recess which in turn forms an enclosing continuation of the forwardly opening recess so as to produce a vertical passage through said member for the snug reception of a sash balance therein.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said projection is of a height less than the height of the vertically elongated portion.

6. Window construction comprising a fixed jamb, said jamb having a back web and a pair of spaced forwardly projecting flanges, a sash stile, said stile having a web spaced forward of the jamb web and a pair of spaced rearwardly projecting flanges positioned inward of and adjacent to the jamb flanges, a weather block located within the internal space defined by said webs and flanges, said block having a cross-sectional area substantially equal to that of said internal space, and means fixedly securing said block to the jamb, said stile being in sliding engagement with the block.

7. The construction of claim 6 including a vertically positioned sash balance fixed within said internal space, said block having a vertical passage therethrough, said balance being fixed within and sealing said passage.

8. The construction of claim 7 wherein said stile flanges terminate in forwardly spaced relation to the jamb web, said block engaging the rearward free edges of the stile flanges and the stile web between the stile flanges.

9. The construction of claim 6 wherein said stile flanges terminate in forwardly spaced relation to the jamb web, said block engaging the rearward free edges of the stile flanges and the stile web between the stile flanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,599,196 6/1952 Pererni 49-406 X DAVID J. \VILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

A. I. BREIER, Assistant Examiner, 

6. WINDOW CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FIXED JAMB, SAID JAMB HAVING A BACK WEB AND A PAIR OF SPACED FORWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGES, A SASH STILE, SAID STILE HAVING A WEB SPACED FORWARD OF THE JAMB WEB AND A PAIR OF SPACED REARWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGES POSITIONED INWARD OF AND ADJACENT TO THE JAMB FLANGES, A WEATHER BLOCK LOCATED WITHIN THE INTERNAL SPACE DEFINED BY SAID WEBS AND FLANGES, SAID BLOCK HAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF SAID INTERNAL SPACE, AND MEANS FIXEDLY 